Award Categories
This year’s awards celebrate excellence across storytelling, craft, production, and reader impact. Browse all submission categories below.
Author Submission Categories
Authors may submit eligible works across the following genre, craft, and production categories.
Age & Audience
Young Adult
Fiction written for teen readers featuring coming-of-age journeys, identity exploration, and emotional growth.
Children’s Book
Illustrated or prose stories written for early and middle-grade readers.
Young Adult
Fiction written for teen readers featuring coming-of-age journeys, identity exploration, and emotional growth.
General Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Modern stories grounded in real-world settings and human experiences.
Historical Fiction
Narratives set in past eras with immersive period detail.
Coming of Age
Stories focused on a character’s emotional or psychological growth into maturity.
Romance
Romantic Comedy
Lighthearted romance driven by humor, charm, and emotional payoff.
Contemporary Romance
Modern love stories grounded in present-day settings and realistic dynamics.
Steamy Romance
Romance with explicit intimacy and strong on-page heat.
Dark Romance
Romantic stories exploring morally complex relationships and darker themes.
Paranormal Romance
Romance featuring supernatural beings or otherworldly elements.
Horror Romance
Love stories blended with horror tension, fear, or dread.
Fantasy & Speculative
Fantasy
Stories set in imagined worlds shaped by magic and myth.
Epic / High Fantasy
Large-scale fantasy with expansive worldbuilding and high stakes.
Paranormal / Urban Fantasy
Supernatural stories set within modern or urban environments.
Dark Fantasy
Fantasy with grim tone, horror elements, or moral ambiguity.
Gothic Fantasy
Atmospheric fantasy rooted in gothic settings and haunting imagery.
Romantasy
Fantasy where romance is a central narrative driver.
Science Fiction
Sci-Fi
Fiction exploring futuristic science, technology, or space.
Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic
Stories set in collapsed societies or catastrophe-shaped worlds.
Thriller/Mystery
Psychological Thriller / Suspense
Mind-driven tension stories focused on perception and emotional stakes.
Thriller / Mystery
Fast-paced narratives centered on crime, investigation, and danger.
Cozy Mystery
Lighter mysteries with minimal graphic content and community focus.
Horror
Horror
Fiction intended to frighten, unsettle, or disturb.
Supernatural Horror
Horror driven by ghosts, demons, curses, or paranormal forces.
Splatterpunk
Extreme horror emphasizing graphic violence and shock.
Format-Based Fiction
Poetry
Collections showcasing poetic voice, rhythm, and expression.
Novella
Shorter fiction between a short story and full novel.
Anthology / Collection
Curated volumes of multiple works by one or more authors.
Non-Fiction
Memoir / Autobiography / Biography
Memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies that explore personal life experiences or the documented lives of others.
True Crime
Works that examine real criminal cases through investigative storytelling, analysis, or lived experience.
Self-Help / Personal Development
Focused on personal growth, mental wellness, emotional healing, and life improvement
Representation & Inclusion
LGBTQ+ Fiction
Stories centering LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, and lived experiences.
Black Fiction
Stories centering Black voices, cultures, and perspectives.
Latin American Fiction
Fiction highlighting Latin American heritage and narratives.
Indigenous Fiction
Stories rooted in Indigenous cultures and lived realities.
Asian / Pacific Islander Fiction
Works representing Asian and Pacific Islander identities.
Middle Eastern / North African Fiction
Stories reflecting MENA cultures and experiences.
Disability Representation in Fiction
Fiction portraying characters living with disabilities.
Neurodivergent Representation in Fiction
Stories featuring neurodivergent characters and perspectives.
Craft & Writing
Best Prose
Recognition for exceptional writing style and narrative voice.
Best Dialogue
Awarded for natural, compelling character dialogue.
Best Multiple POVs
Honors effective storytelling across multiple perspectives.
Best Trope Execution
Celebrates creative and skillful use of tropes.
Best Magic System
Recognizes originality and structure in fantasy magic design.
Production & Format
Best Indie Audiobook
Awarded to an outstanding independently produced audiobook.
Best Audiobook Narrator
Honors excellence in vocal storytelling performance.
Best Editor
Recognizes editorial excellence in shaping a manuscript.
Best Cover Design
Celebrates outstanding visual cover artistry.
(AI generated covers not eligible)
New Author Recognition
Best Debut Novel
Awarded to the strongest first-published indie novel.
Reader Submission Categories
Reader-nominated awards celebrating unforgettable characters, series, and community impact.
Character Awards
Favorite Morally Gray Character
A complex character operating between hero and villain.
Most Unforgettable Character
A character who left a lasting impact on readers.
Best Villain
An antagonist defined by presence, motive, or execution.
Reader Experience Awards
Binge-Worthy Book
A book readers couldn’t put down.
Ultimate Re-Read
A story readers return to repeatedly.
Most Satisfying HEA
The most emotionally rewarding happily-ever-after.
Best Hidden Gem
An under-recognized indie book deserving more attention.
Series & Author Popularity
Best Completed Indie Series
Honors a fully published indie series with strong impact.
Most Hype-Worthy Indie Author
Recognizes an author generating major reader buzz.
Reader’s Choice Award
The top reader-voted indie book of the year.
Creator & Community Awards
Indie Community Champion
Someone who actively uplifts the indie author space
Indie BookTok Creator of the Year
A creator making major impact promoting indie books.
Breakout Indie Supporter
A rising voice championing indie authors and stories.